Card index system



M. THEIMER CARD IND Oct. 5, 1937.

EX SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1936 Fig.

Max 7%??? dam/$49 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE' Max Theimer, West Point Pleasant,.N. J.

Application January 23, 1936, Serial No. 60,416

18 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in cards for filing devices to facilitate and shorten the search for any desired card within a card system.

Ordinary filing cards are clumsy to handle in searching for a particular card. One card after another has to be moved along between the finger tips to enable the searcher to see their top lines which generally contain the key to the information on the cards. There are a number of complicated and expensive devices to facilitate the search for cards, but my device is simple and inexpensive. My invention comprises couplings which ar shaped out of or attached to each card. Where cards are arranged to stand vertically, which is the most usual case, the coupling device causes the rear card of a stack, when raised, to become automatically attached to the next card in front and to raise said front card. Said front card in turn attaches itself to the next card in front of it, and this latter card being raised automatiinto its predetermined position in the stack with out regard to the coupling device.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further study of the description and drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one type of my cards shown in a stack in extended position, said type having two small windows.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a stack of cards, of the type of Fig. 1, shown in unextended position.

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken as Fig. 2 showing the upper portions of two of the cards in extended position to a large scale.

Fig.5 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a pair of cards in extended position of a type having one large window.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental rear elevation of the upper portion of a card of the type of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a partial section to an enlarged scale taken along the line 'I-'I of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a partial front elevation of the upper portion of a card of a type having metallic couplings mounted thereon.

Fig. 9 is a partial rear elevation of a corner of a card of the type of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a partial section to an enlarged scale taken along the line II0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a partial front elevation of the upper portion of a card of a type having readily removable metallic clipsv or couplings, one of the couplings being removed showing the notch into which it fits.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of the metallic clip used on cards of the type of Fig. 11, and V V Fig. 13 is a section to an enlarged scale through the portions of three cards of the type of Fig. at their windows, said cards being shown inunextended position and with their tongues nesting in the flexible sheets.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and. 4, cards I4 are each provided with an upper slot I5. Slot I5 is located so that its upper edge coincides with line I6 on the card. .Line I6 is so located that there is sufficient space between it and. the upper edge of the card to allow a line of typing or label for the card. Slot I5 is formed by cutting a channel shaped slit in the card, with the sides of the slit pointing upward, thematerial of the card thus set free being bent back at the top of the slot to form a tongue H, the bend defining the upper edge of the slot. Pastedonthe front face of card I4 over slot I5 is a thin sheet 20 of Cellophane, paper or other flexible material Below slot I5 is another slot I8 of the same size and shape as slot I5. Slot I8 is formed similarlyrto slot I5 in that a channel shaped slit is cut in the card with the sides of the slit pointing downward. The tongue I9 is bent forward alongthe web portion of the channel, the bend of the tongue definingthe bottom edge of slot I8. A thin sheet of flexible materialll, similar to that used at slot I5, is pasted on the rear face of card I4 over slot I8. The distance between the top edges of slots I5 and I8 is somewhat greater than the space between line I6 and the top edge of the card. g

Ordinarily when the cards 'just described are not in use, they are setin the usual card filing boxor drawer (not shown) in the'relative posi tions shown in Fig. 3. For the best functioning'of my system the cards must be set in their receptacle with an appreciable amount of pressure'between them. Most filing devices have an adg ust able Sl de therein to press the cards together.

When it is desired to extend the cards, the last card of the stack is pulled upward, its forwardly 7 projecting tongue 19 engaging the rearwardly projecting tongue I! on the card just in front of it'and so on throughout the entire stack until a space at the top of each of the cards'is ex- 7 posed. The distance between tongues H and|9 is such that it permits the cards to be 'exposed above their lines l6 so that one can readily see the headings on' all the cards. 7

Thin sheets of material 20 and 2| prevent tongues H and 9 from becoming disarranged,

that is for tongue I! to project forward from" the card and tongue l9 to project backward.

.Said sheets alsohave the further function that when the cards are in unextended position, the

' through slot l8 of the card'in front, ,thereby' pre- 1 4 fRe'ferring to Flgs55, 6, 7. and13, there are seen tongue of one card cannot enter the slot opposite it of the adjacentcardi For example, when the cards are inunextended position, tongue I! which extends baokwardlis opposite slot l and would becomelo'cked in it were it not prevented from doing so by sheet over the fro-nt'of slot I5. Sheet 2| prevents tongue I9. from sticking 'of-j thetong ues from their'normal positions on their T'cards and for preventing the tongues for all positions of the cardsin passing from un-' extended to extended position from engaging'the cards beyond the next adjacent card.

cards of a type. that have one large window or slot 22.1IA' tongue 23 projects rearwardly and downward-ly'at the uppe'r'jedge of slot22, while a tongue .24 projects forwardly and upwardly at the lower edge of Shitl'iSlOt. 'A thin sheet 26 7 ofv Cellophane,paper or other flexible material is pasted on card "with its upperiedge upon the front of thecard' above tongue 23, and with its lower edge upon the' rea'r of the card below tongue 24.; Line 2l is so located that there is s'ufllcient space between it and the upper edge of the card to allow a line of typing or label for the card. The upper edge of slot 22 is just beloyv I linei'21. The distance between the'upper and lower edges of s1ot1'22, which is the distance be tween tongues 23 and 24, is somewhat greater than thedistance between line 21' and the top of: the card, so that when the cards are' in ex-' tended position; they 'are exposed above their lines 21 for the ready reading of their headings. Lifting up the rear'hcard' 25 ofthe stack causes ;its forwardly extending tongue 24 to engage the rearwardly' extendingf tonguje 23 on the card just in. ifront of pitand so 'on' throughout the r stack until theiheadings'of'all the cards are exposed;

"The type of. cards shown in Figs. to 4 inclusivei'has' the advantage that very little space on 7 the'c'ar'd is used up forthecoup-ling mechanism, butlthe' stack offc'ards from front to back when in" unexten'ded position tends to occupy more space than a'stack' of plain" cards. On the other hand, thetype offcards of' Figs." 5, 6, 'T'and 13.

wheniini 'an unextnded stack occupy but little more space than a stack of plain cards because tongues 23 and 24 are enabled tonest in slot 22.

Although slot 22 is covered with thinsheet 26; V

the tongues can nest. in said slot because said sheet, which is very'flex'ible, is provided with slackas can be most readily seen in Fig. 13. The middle card in said figure shows what takes place with all the interior cards of three or more cards.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show a type ofcard using a thin readily flexible sheet metal couplingl Two: wide slots or cutout openings 28 are provided in card 3|, the top of the slots coinciding with line 29 which is spaced from the upper edge of the card sufficiently to allow, a heading to be written for the card. Metal coupling 39 which I 'is mounted on the rear ofv the card, one at'each slot 28, is wider than said slot.

See FigsBv and a stack of 9. The coupling 39 has, a lower hook '32'which;

extends through slot 28 coming in front of the frontface of the card and pointing upwardly. On eachside of hook 321s among 33 extending through the card and bent up against its front? face to hold the lower part of coupling against therear of the cardl Similar prongs 34 are at the, top of coupling 39 extending through card 3| and bent down against its front face to hold: 2

the upper part of coupling 39Jagainstthe rear of the card. Between prongs 34 at the upper end of coupling 39 is hook 35 extending rearwardly and downwardly. In using this type of card, when the rearward'card is lifted, hooks 32 a on its front face engage hooks 35 on-the rear face of the card next in front. The vertical spacing-between hooks 32 and hooks 35 is such that when the cards are extended,v the headings of ,the cards are visible;

Figs. 11 and 12 show a type ofcardalso using a thin readily flexible sheet metallic coupling, except that instead 0f.said coupling being located opposite an opening" in the card as previously described, coupling 38 is set at a notch 36 in the side of card 31; Coupling 38 is pro-' vided at its. upper end. with twoupwardly extending prongs 39 set forward of its front face,

and at its, lower 'end with two downwardlyex tending prongs '40, also set forward of its front face. Between prongs 39 at the upperend of coupling 38 is a rearwardly and downwardly extending hook 4|. At the lower end of-co-upling 38,is a forwardly and upwardly extending'hook 42. Coupling 38 is mounted upon the card by coupling coming against the rear face of the card while prongs 39 and 40 come in front of the front faceof the card, hook 42 at its lower end fitting in small notch 43 and extending in front of the front face. of the card. In using thistype of cards, when the rearward card-is lifted, hooks 42 on its front face engage hooks 4| on the rear face :of the card next i'n front. The vertical spacing between hoolns 4| and 42 is such that when the cards are headings of the cards are visible. 7

Instead of having the couplings of thin sheet extended; the r -sliding it into notch 36, the front face of the metal, thin sheet material such as celluloid'could T he used. p

Couplings 39,-Fig. 8 are permanently attached. to the card, that is the cards are furnished with the couplings'already attached. These cards are most suitable wherean entirely new file is tobe installed. On the other hand couplings 38,Fi'gs. lljand 12 are especially useful where a card" index is already'in existence and it is 'desiredto install by construction. .A special paper cutter can be used to make thenotches 36 in the side'of the card. Once these notches are formed, co'uplings 38 can be easily" slid sideways into place at the notches.

While the description and claims refer to cards, I wish it to be understood that the term is to be considered as broad enough to cover other types of sheets' such as the large sheets or loose leaf pages used in some filing systems.

Further, in some types of filing, the cards are pulled out horizontally or obliquely. My system is suitable here. Where cards are to be displayed horizontally, it is not necessary to pull or spread out only the bottom card, but both the bottom and top cards may be spread out in opposite directions. In horizontal filing, where it is desired to have the cards labelled on the bottom line, it is only necessary to reverse the stack.

While the coupling device has been described as coming near the top of the card, I wish it to be understood that it may be at other locations on the card.

The terms top, bottom, front and rear in. the claims are used as relative terms, as in a horizontal filing system for example they may become respectively rear, front, top and bottom. Also the other terms involvingposition and direction are intended to be relative where such sense is applicable. The term stack as used herein is intended to mean either all the cards in a particular group or in sections ofthe group.

I claim:-

. l. A card index system comprising a plurality of cards in a stack, engaging means for the rear of each card at a predetermined distance down from its top, and engaging means for the front of each card at a predetermined distance down from its top, said latter distance being greater than the former distance, the rear engaging means of one card being out of engagementwith the front engaging means of the card next to the rear when the cards are substantially at the same elevation, but catching on the latter engaging means when the cards aregiven such relative motion to each other to cause the succeeding cards from front to back to ,be at successively higher elevations in sufficient amount.

2. A card index system as claimed in claim 1, in which the difference incdistanc-e down from the top of the card of the front andrear engaging means is such that when the cards are moved sufliciently to cause said means to catch, the space exposed on the front face at the top of succeeding cards is suitable for a heading,

3. A card index system comprising a plurality of cards held in a stack, hooking means extending to the rear of each card and pointing downward, hooking means extending to the front of each card and pointing upward, the front hooking means being at a distance below the rear hooking means and substantially in line therewith, the rear hooking means of one card being out of engagement with the front hooking means of the card immediately to the rear when the cards are substantially at the same elevation but catchingon the latter hooking means when the cards are given sufficient relative motion with respect to each other, such motion being that to cause the succeeding cards from front to back to be at successively higher elevations, said distance being such to allow suflicient of said relative motion before the catching of the hooks to expose enough of the front surface at the top of each card for the display of a heading on the card.

4. A card index system as claimed in claimed 3 having a'barrierextending between the rear and front hooking means on each card preventing the hooking means from becoming accidentally displaced to the'opposite side of the card from'that from which said means normally extend, said barrier also preventing hooking means from passing through the next adjacent card into engagement with a card beyond. v

5. A card index system'comprising a plurality of cards in a stack, each card having one or more portions cut away, fasteners of relatively thin sheet materialattached to, the cards where cut away, each fastener having a'web and oppositely web extending to the rear of the card and downward and one at the bottom portion of theweb extending to the front of the card and upward, the web of the'fastener covering over the portion of the card cut away where said fastener is attached, the rearwardly extending hook of a fastener on one card engaging the forwardly extending hook of a fastener on the card immediately to the rear when the cards are given relative upward motion away from each other, the space between the hooks of a fastener being suflicient to permit enough of said relative motion between successive cards before engagement of the hooks, to expose enough surface at the front top of extending hooks, one at the top portion of the each card for .the display of a heading on the card.

6. A'card index system comprisinga plurality of cards in a stack, each card having a pair of notches, there being a notch at each of its side edges, av pair of fasteners of relatively thigh readily flexible sheet material, each having a web and a pair of oppositely extending hooks, one hook being at the top, portion of the web and the'other at the bottom portion of the web, guide means at the top'and bottom of the web of each fastener for sliding the fastener into position in the notch, the top guide means engaging the upper edge of the notch and the bottom guide means engaging the bottom edge of the notch, said guide meansv when pinched against the edges of the notch maintaining the fastener in the notch, the top hook of each fasmner when mounted on the card extending to the rear of the card and downward and the bottom hook extending to the front of the card and upward, the rearwardly extending hook of afastener on one card engaging the forwardly extending hook of a fastener on the card immediately to the rear when the cards are given relative upward motion away from each other; I 7

'7. Acard index systemas claimed in claim 6 V in which the fastener is of greater extent up and down than the distance between the top and bottom :edges of the notch, said fastener being mounted at the notch with one face of its web against one face of the card, oneof said edgesv of the notch being provided with a small notch through which the hook at the corresponding portion of the fastener extends to the opposite face of the card from that against which the face of the web of. the fastener is mounted.

8. A card index system comprising a plurality of cardsin a stack, each card having a slot therein, the material of the card at the bottom of the slot being bent as a tongue to extend up: wardly and forwardly and the material of the card at the top of the slot being .bent' as a tongue to extend rearwardly and downwardly, the forwardly extending tongue on one card engaging the rearwardly extending tongue on the card immediately in frontwhen the cards are given relative upward motion away from each other, the space between the tongues of a card being sufiicientito permit enough of said relative motion between successive cards beforeengag'ement of the tongues to expose ,enough surface at 'thelfront top of each card for the display of a heading on the card. U

9. A'card index system as claimed in claim 8 having a thin sheet of flexible material on each 7 card extending over its slot, the upper end portion of the sheet being fastened to the front of, the card abovetherearwardly extending tongue "and the lower end portion of the sheet being wardly extending tongue.'

fastened to the rear of the card below .thefor- 10. A card index system comprising a plurality of cards in a stack, each card having a'pair' of slits cut therein one above the other, each slit being in the shape of achannel, the sides of the top channel pointing upward and the sides of the bottom channel pointing downward, the materi-' al of: the card set free at the upper slit being bent backto form a rearwardly and downwardly extending tongue and the material of the card set V free at the lowerslit being bentforward to form a forwardly and upwardly extending tongue, the forwardly extending tongue on one card engaging the rearwardly extending tongue on the card immediately in front when the cards are given relative upward motion away from each other, the space betweenthe tongues of a card being sufilcient to permit enough of said relative motion between successive cards before engagement of. the tongues to expose enoughsurface at the front top of each card for the display of a heading on the card. a '11. A card index system comprising a plurality of cards in a stac k, upper engaging means for the rear ofeach card, lower engaging means for the front of each card at a distance below the upper engaging means, and'a barrier extending between the upper and lower engaging means,

4 the lower engaging means of one card being out of engagement with the upper engaging means of. the card immediately in front when the tops of adj acentcards are not substantially separated,

but engaging the latter engaging'means when the cards are given a predetermined amount of relative upward motion away fromieach other,

said barrier preventing the engaging meansof one card from catching on with more than one cardlnext adjacent to'the front and rear.

'12. A card index system as claimed in claim 8 having a thin sheet of flexible material'on each card extendingrover its slot, the upper end portion of the sheet being fastened to the front of the card above the rearwardly extending tongue and the lower end portion ofithesheetbeing fastened to the rear of the cardbelow the forwardly extending tongue} said she e t being thus f'astened'with sufficient slack therein to permit its flexing for the tongues of the cards to the frontand rear to nest in the slot: of an intermediate card.

13. Acard'index system comprising a plurality of cards heldin a stack and engaging means hetween'succes's'ive cards in theistack for limiting the upwardmotion away from each other from their position of alignment in the stack of. the" successive cards,said engaging means having its cooperating partsdisconnected from each other when the cards". are in substantial alignment, the 1 allowable'length of said motionbeing suflicient to expose predetermined portions of successive cards. I

'14. A card index system comprising a plurality of cards held in a stack, and-engaging means between successive cardstingthe stack carried by V the cards themselves .for limiting the upward motion away from each other from their positions of alignment-in the stack of the'successive cards, the allowable length of said motion being sufficient to expose predetermined portions of successive cards, the engaging means between suc-.

V cessive cards being out of engagement when the cards are substantially in alignment.

itswidth, the forwardly extending tongue on' onev card catching on the rearwardly extending tongue on thecard immediately in front when the cards are given relative upward motion away from each other, the space between the tongues of a card being suflicient to permit enough of said relative motion between successive cards before their tongues catch, to expose enough surface at the front top of each card for the display of a heading on the card.

16. A card index system comprising a plurality of cards in a stack, said cards when in substantial alignment being unconnected to each other, and engaging means between successive cards in the stack located substantially above the middle-of the cards, said engaging means limiting the up-' ward motion away from each other from their position of alignment inthe stack of the succe's Vsive cards, the allowable length of said motion being sufiicient to-expose predetermined portions of successive cards. 7

17. A card index system asclaimed in claim 10 V having'a thin sheet of material fastened tothe front of .the card over the opening in the card formed by bending back the materialof the card sheet of material fastened to the rear of the card i 7 over the opening in the card formed by-bending forwardly the material of the card for'the forwardly extending tongue.

18. A'card index system comprising a'plurality of cards in a stack, and engaging means between successive cards in the stack comprisingtongues for the front and rear respectively, of'the cards, the tongues being so spaced oneiabove the other and shortenough to havev a vertical clearance between their free edges so'that when the cards are in substantial alignment, the tongue on the front of one card is out of engagement with the.

tongue on the rear of the, next succeeding card, the upward motion away from each other from their position of alignment in the stack of the successive cards being limited by the coming into engagement of the front and rear tongues. V

' V MAX THEIMER 50 for the rearwardly extending tongue, and a thin 

